Diaphragm and method oe making- sams



Aug. 2 1, 1923, 1,465,610

' E. M. MORAN DIAPHRAGM AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April .21 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR ylaw A TTORNE Y Edward M.Mw a2@ Aug. 21,1923..

1,465,610 E. M. MORAN DIAPHRAGM AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 211920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Edward M.Manm

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD M. MORAN, 01" BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

DIAPHRAGDI AND BEECH-10D OF MAKING- SAME.

Application filed. April 21, 1320.

To all 10 7mm it may concern.

Be it known that I, Eowiinn M. MORAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Diaphragms and Methods ofMaking Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a meter diaphragm and an apparatus for makingthe same.

Heretotore it has been common practice to form meter diaphragms,especially for use with gas meters from strips of leather which havebeen gathered along their opposite edges and secured to mounting rings,said strips being united at the joint of their contiguous edges in amanner to prevent leakage of the gas. Due to this arrangement the exactvolume of the diaphragm cannot be always ascertained and furthermore,the diaphragm is liable to leak even through every precaution isexercised in its formation.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a meterdiaphragm which is formed from a single seamless piece of leather andwhich may be made of any desired shape and furthermore without re-'quiring tucking or sewing operations, said diaphragm being shaped upon acollapsible form.

The present invention is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in plane illustratingthe 7 form upon which the diaphragms are made.

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section through the form as shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a view in'section and elevation showing the position of thediaphragm upon the form.

Fig. at is a view in perspective illustrating the completely formeddiaphragm.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a collapsible iorm upon which a diaphragm11 is made. The form is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 where it will beseen to comprise a'bottom member 12 and an annular collapsible member13. The bottom member 12 may be of any desired configuration andpreferably. made from light sheet metal to pro vide' an outer wall l4and an inner wall The wall 15 is substantially circular and is formedwith an annular flange 16 adjacent its marginal edge to receive theSerial No. 375,583.

lower portion of the collapsible form. The collapsible form is also madefrom light sheet metal and comprises arcuate i'orm segments 17, 18 and19 and 20. The segments 18 and are hinged to the opposite ends of thesegments 17 by means of hinge members 21. The joints of segments 17, 18and 20 are along lines radial withthe center of the form. The segment 19is adapted to be completely removed from its position between theopposite ends of segments 1S and 20 the joints in this case beingparallel to a line passing through the center of the form and across themiddle of the segment 19. This segment secured in position by clampingnuts 22 which engage screw studs 28 extending radially from the innerfaces 01 the segments 1.8 and 20 and adjacent the form segment 19. Thescrews 23 are adapted to pass through openings in a fastening plate 24secured to the inner face of the segment 19. It will therefore beevident that when the segment is in position and held by the nuts 22 itwill hold the segments 17, 1S and 20 in rigid relation to each other andwill combine there with to provide an annular form. The outer contour ofthis form may be as desired although in the present instance is shown ashaving an arcuate face 25 as clearly disclosed in Fig. 2. A straightcircumierential lip 26 is formed as a continuation of this face on oneside, while the outer contour of the bottom plate 1a is adapted to blendinto the lines of the arcuate face 25. It is also to be understood thatthe bottom member 12 might be eliminated if desired or that bottommembers or other configuration might be used without departin rom thespirit of this invention. b

A combined locking and centering means is provided to secure the bottommember in relation to the annular form and to produce a' rigidstructure. This comprises a tubular stem 27 which is rigidly secured tothe bottom oi the form at its center and projects from the face 15. Thisstem is adapted to receive a center pin'28 which may be secured inposition by a set screw 29. The center pin carries a rigid rod 30, theouter ends of which are formed with locking fins 31 which pass into aslot between members 32 carried by the form segments 18 and 20. Thisslot is slightly inclined to the horizontal so that movement of the rodto bring the fins to a seat will act used in the construction of gasmeter.

to bind the bottom 12 and the annular form 13 together in rigid manner.In operation or this invention to produce a diaphragm of the characterde cribed, a circular sheet of leather is dampened and thereafter theassembled form is brought to rest thereon. The leather is then graduallystretched and worked around the sides of the form so that the outer edgeoif the leather may be brought around the cylindrical lip portion 26,after which an elastic band 33 is placed around the leather totemporarily hold it and to permit further stretching and working of theleather to bring it to conform to the exact contour of the form. Theleather may then be permitted to dry and when in proper conditionsegment 19 of the form may be removed. T he set screw 29 may also bewithdrawn to permit removal of the lock bar after w iich the annularform may be collapsed and removed from the interior of the leatherwithout distorting it. The bottom :ierzn 12 may also be removed after ithas been separated from the annular form. The leather may then betreated as desired and It will be readily that by producing a meterdiaphragm in the manner described, the leather will be caused to exactlyassume the formation desired and. accommodate a predetermined volume orgas. I will also be evident that no seams will exist in the leather andthat it will be devoid of tucks thus making it possible to quicklysecure it to the metal fittings usually provided.

lVhile I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known tome, it will be understood that various changes in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in theart without departingfrom the spirit of the invention aselaimed.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure byletters Patent, is:

1. A device to form flexible meter diaphragms, comprising a base member,and an arcuate sectional, collapsible form adapted to be connected tothe base and over which form a flexible meter diaphragm may be moulded.

2. A device to form flexible meter diaphragms, the saic devicecomprising a base member having a rim, and circular segments having anexterior curvature over which a diaphragm may be moulded, the saidsegments eollapsibly united and adapted to be secured to the base. 7

3. A diaphragm moulding form comprising sectional segments having anexterior curvature over which the diaphragm is I to be formed, foldablejoints uniting con tiguous segments, a removable, completing segment,and intermediate bracing means to retain the structure sections. I

l. A flexible diaphragm forming device, comprising a base with anupwardly curvrim, arcuate segmental sections collapsi bly unitedtogether, with their lower edges forming a curved continuation of therim, and with a cylindrical extension of the upper edge or" the segmentsand means to unite and center the structural members. i

5. A flexible diaphragm forming device, including a base with anupwardly and outwai 'dly cur ed rim, arcuate segmental sec tionscollapsibly united and having their lower edges forming a curvedcontinuation of the rim, and having a cylindrical exten sion of theupper edge of the segments, and means to unite the structur l membersconsisting of a socket tube and adjustable stem extending upwardly fromthe base and transverse bar extending across the stem with latchingmeans uniting its ends with the segmental sections. I I

6. A single piece diaphragm forming apparatus, including curve 1collapsible segments with means uniting the segmentsinto a continuousstructure, and a uniting and retaining intermediate mechanism, acylindrical band receiving extension over which the diaphragm isextended from the shaping segments and retained, anda band to lit oversaid band receiving extension to retain the diaphragm against theextension.

7. A diaphragm forming device comprising sectional segments, each havingan extcrior curvature offset from one edge of the respective segments soas to ,provide an annular member having a curved portion over which thediaphragm is formed and an annular extension between the curved portionand the adjacent edge of said member, and means to embrace saidextension and hold the diaphragm against the extension;

S. A diaphragm.forming device comprising sectionalsegments, each havingan exterior curvature offset from one edge of the respective segments soas to provide anannular member having a curved portion over which thediaphragm'is formed and an an nnlar extension between the curved portionand the adjacent edge of said member, means to embrace said extensionand hold the diaphragm against the extension, and

means confined within the device to retainthe segments 1n the aforesaidannular formation. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two subscribing

